The Wiregrass was thankfully spared from the dangerous weather that rolled through the South this weekend, but local meteorologists and news media have received messages from angry viewers that the situation was blown out of proportion.
Reader, please save your ire.
This storm was dangerous — at least 40 people died across the country from weekend storms.
At least seven tornados spawned in Alabama alone.
Alongside all the negatives of the digital age in which we live, there are a few glaring positives: weather knowledge and awareness have incredible upward potential, and local experts are available on a variety of platforms to inform you about dangerous situations before they happen.
Local meteorologists were up all night Saturday into Sunday in wall-to-wall coverage to monitor the weather, as we had every ingredient for tornados.
Our diligent weather aficionados are there to keep you informed when severe weather could and has the potential to happen.
I am a big supporter of focusing on gratitude when anger or disappointment strikes.
Take some time to look at what the aftermath of a tornado looks like (if you haven’t already seen it) and simply thank baby Jesus and the grown one, too, that we did not have to see such destruction in our own backyards.
Look out at your patio furniture which may have simply been blown over and think to yourself, “Self, I’m happy I don’t have to do more cleanup than righting this chair.”
Watch the news today and be glad that person reporting on continual windy weather today not only knows the warning signs for tornados but also is there literally in rain or shine to make sure you know how to keep yourself safe.
